While you may feel confident in your driving ability, bad weather conditions can cause you to become an auto accident victim.. Ice storms that swept across the Oklahoma City area on Dec. 20 led to multiple auto accidents, with a 15-car pileup occurring just one hour after the freezing rain moved in. By that evening, state authorities had confirmed more than 17 car accidents across the state, with at least one fatal car crash.
Icy weather does not necessarily excuse liability for causing an auto accident. Driving defensively under bad conditions could save you and others from personal injury and save lives.
- When driving on icy streets and roads, always be aware that drivers around you could lose control of their vehicles. Leave plenty of space between you and the next driver, and cut your driving speed. Even driving at or below the posted speed limit could be too fast for poor road conditions.
- Avoid moving in and out of traffic, even when there is room. Although you may feel you have control of your car, you could cause less skilled drivers to panic, leading to a serious accident.
- Watch for unusual conditions such as drifts — piles of snow that blow into roads at different depths — and black ice — ice so thin it allows pavement to show through, making it look as if roads are clear. When you hit these conditions, you can easily lose control of your car.
If you are involved in a motor vehicle accident, you may want to contact an experienced attorney to discuss the situation. You might find yourself involved in a lawsuit later if either you or another driver or occupant decides to file a personal injury lawsuit.
Source: NewsChannel4, “Ice Storm Already Causing Hiccups Across the State,” Dec. 20, 2013
